News from October 2007
Roof repair leads to house fire, lawsuit
Insurance companies have been defending themselves in thousands of Southeast Texas lawsuits since Hurricane Rita, but in a recent suit it is the insurer taking a roofing company to court. Fire Insurance Exchange is suing Tony and Jennifer Bluel, individually and doing business as Ace Roofing and Remodeling.
Woman says nursing home overdosed blood thinner
Claiming she was given too much blood thinner, a Port Arthur woman is suing a nursing home in Groves.
Seaman hurts back moving heavy ladder, files Jones Act suit
Dan Packard While at work on a ship, a Port Arthur man injured his back moving a ladder. He is now suing his employer and the ship's owner under the Jones Act.
Dragon sues over petroleum account
John Seth Bullard Dragon Products, Ltd. has filed suit against D.Q.G. Petroleum Services, Inc., seeking to recover more than $38,000 from a delinquent D.Q.G. Petroleum account.
Mikal Watts withdraws from U.S. Senate race
Mikal Watts Citing family reasons, Corpus Christi plaintiffs' attorney Mikal Watts, a Democratic candidate for John Cornyn's spot in the U.S. Senate, has withdrawn from the race.
Worker blames benzene for leukemia
Keith Hyde A Southeast Texas petrochemical worker is claiming his exposure to benzene has caused him to develop leukemia.
On heels of class action, Medtronic sued for civil theft
MARSHALL -- In the midst of a recent Minnesota class action lawsuit over faulty defibrillator wires, Medtronic, Inc. is facing allegations in Texas that include civil theft of a previously implanted Medtronic device.
Suit: Goggles would have prevented telephone worker's blindness
Blinded in his dominant eye, Marion Frazier lost half of his vision when a large J-screw "ripped painfully through his pupil and iris" while working on a telephone pole.
Suit says company liable after employee sticks arm in vacuum
Pneumatic Industrial Services When a piece of coal was sucked up and lodged in an industrial vacuum, Ricardo Garcia chased after it, sticking his arm in the hose without first turning off the power.
172th COURT DISTRICT OCTOBER 2007
172TH COURT DISTRICT
BBB sponsors annual senior expo
"Elvis" Wade will perform at the BBB Senior Expo The Better Business Bureau of Southeast Texas and its Consumer Education Foundation are once again presenting a fun-filled and educational day for senior citizens.
Capitol Comment: Maintaining our leadership in space
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite, setting off alarm bells that America was falling behind in space technology.
Red Mass gives judiciary time for reflection
Each fall before the U.S. Supreme Court convenes on the first Monday in October, the Justices gather at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., to join in a celebration of the Red Mass.
Medical equipment supplier indicted for Medicare fraud
U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe U.S. Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a medical equipment supplier with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment was returned Oct. 17.
New business licenses/assumed names issued by the Jefferson County Clerk
Orig. Filing Date: 10/11/2007 Certificate #: 71536
Appeals court: No award to victim of fight at crawfish boil
Punched in the face at a Young Life crawfish boil by a minor in May 2003, Ryne Cohen sought justice on both criminal and civil fronts.
Texas discovery rules make case research daunting task
Dr. Jay T. Segarra made millions testifying as an expert in asbestos and silicosis cases around the country, including lawsuits in Jefferson and Orange counties. Recently Dr. Segarra's diagnostic techniques came into question when defendants in a large asbestos case in Philadelphia asked that his testimony be banned from proceedings.
PAISD wants woman's disability pay stopped
David Oubre The Port Arthur Independent School District has filed suit against an employee in hopes the court will reverse an insurance hearing that awarded the woman continued disability payments.
Judge dismisses elderly Texas couple's suit against Oklahoma company
MARSHALL � U.S. District Judge T. John Ward dismissed a motor vehicle personal injury case initiated by an elderly Texas couple against an Oklahoma oil and gas company.